The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-16
GERMAN RULERS LIVES.
Oswald ottendorfer Talks About tt

| Oswald Ottendorfer Talks About the
| Coming Changes III the Fatherland.
A New York letter to the Chicago ndb
says: Mr. Oswald Ottendorfer, the Yenera-
BILE proprietor and editor of the New York
Stats Zeitung, who has visited the father
land nearly every year recently and is now
preparing for another VISIT has given re-
porter his views about King William and
Prince Bismarck, and what he thinks will
happen in Europe when they die. Il saw
King William last year in Berlin" he said,
land the year before at Ems. He looked
better last year than the year pre-
vious. At this latter time he was
looking very poorly and was in such
bad health that it was not thought he could
live long. At that time, while | was at
Bingen-on-the-R Rhine, a gentleman who had
much to do with the court and saw CON
siderable of the Emperor, told Inc that the
| Emperor would swoon away for an hour or
more at time and was very i'll. HIS pres
ent trouble is probably of much the same
nature. But last year he seemed considera-
bly, improved again. Though he is improved
over two years ago, he is yet very oid
man and can not, in the nature OF things,
last much longer.
HE is immensely popular Whenever
he shows himself there is an enthusiasm
over him which an American can't under
stand. But we must take into considera-
ton his great age and the immense services
he has rendered his people, The people ac-
tually fall down in alteration to him and
| Bismarck 1t really seems remarkable.
! This may be a sign Of patriotism, but L
don't consider it an Improvement in the
| German character 1t has developed since
| the Franco German war of 1870. The en-
peror, whom promenading, has as attend
ants two tall, big men, who are always with
him and walk by his side with arms out
stretched, so that if he takes a false step
| they can catch him. He made it rule to
walk half an hour every day"
| Mr.. Ottendorfer does not think great
changes would be caused by King VIII
! lam'S death ''The crown prince is capable
and popular, and point to be remembered
is that he is 81 years old, and thus beyond
the age when a ruler is ambitious to make
changes in his government. As to the i'm
mediate prospect of the Emperor's death,
| that is not certain by any means. As two
years ago he was not expected to
again and live several years. But
it will be impossible for him to take the
| field again if there should be war. That
| is very certain. He cannot repeat his per-
| Torrance of 1870 when he was in the saddle
| fourteen hours. This may be said to have
been his last active work on the battlefield.
| If he should die and the Crown Princes
throat trouble cause his death, too, the lat
ter's son William would become ruler He
is about 30 years of age, and spoken of very
highly and as an able man. But l doubt
about his amounting to much as general,
though of course he has had no opportunity
as yet to display any talent of this kind"
would not the death of the Emperor be
apt to lead France to precipitate war~
at is difficult to say. 1t does look as if
war between the two countries is inevitable
In the near future. But the great part of
the German people do not wish war-they
are naturally inclined to peace. But at the
same time they keep up their army in good
shape If there should be a war now Ger
many would undoubtedly get the better of
France, and probably Russia would join
France, and Austria engage Russia. When
| returned from Europe last fall felt posi-
tive that in the spring war would be begun
The air was full of war rumors, and / was
never in a country where the opinion was
so widespread that war was
inevitable. Nevertheless it has not
come yet, and certainly the
German people are doing every
thing to prevent one; and they will con-
tinue TO do so unless provoked to such an
extent as to be uncomfortable. The trouble
is that the ambitious men of France, like
Boulanger, may take hold of any opportu-
nifty to precipitate a war But | believe
the French statesmen would do their best to
prevent war. Parties in France must not
be taken for the French people / believe
the latter, as rule are inclined to remain
at peace But if France does go into il she
is sure of being defeated, and in that event
Germany might feel compelled to reduce
her to a second-rate power by crippling her
greatly, and she doubtless would have to
remain so a long time"
"But France does not seem to get over the
taking away of Alsace and Lorraine by
Germany"
whether she does or not Germany can't
give them up. As long as they were in the
| possession of France the door was open for
an invasion into Germany and so it is neces-
| sary for Germany to keep them, if only in
| self-protection. But these provinces were
originally German for 100 years and were
sold to France. The country people there
speak German even now Germany has inn
proved these provinces immensely since she
has controlled them, expanding millions of
| dollars in doing so, particularly in the i'm
provement of public buildings"
"What would be the effect of the death of
Bismarck"
'''Tne death of Bismarck would be more
generally felt in the position of Germany in
Europe This high position is due in very
large part to Bismarck, and his death would
probably result in changing it considerably.
But, perhaps, it would be better for the peo-
pie at large of Germany if their country did
| not occupy so prominent position and one
that costs so much to maintain. 1t was
formerly thought that the crown prince
was not on good terms with Bismarck, and
would enter on different line of policy in
the event of the latter's death, but l doubt
this. This reduced position of Germany
that | spoke of would not satisfy the ambi-
tious men of the country so much. perhaps,
| but it would be better for the common peo-
| pie, for then there would not have to be
made SO much show, and, consequently,
there would be more money saved"
did you ever see Bismarck
Eyes, in the Reichstag. Personally, you
would not believe, to look at him, that he
was such genius and power. He is a very
poor speaker, and you would not imagine,
when you see his speeches III print, if you
had heard his styls of speaking, that he
could deliver such stirring addresses. re.
member l asked the head stenographer of
Parliament il Bisinarck's speeches were
not doctored after they were delivered
tley read so different from the style
of the man when speaking. was
surprised to be told that nothing
in them was ever changed. 1t is a pecu-
liarity of Bismarck's that every word as he
utters it shall appear in his printed speech.
Even the occasional mistakes in grammar,
he insists, shall 60 in just MS he made them.
There are striking sentences in his speak
= Il